From time immemorial the Universe has always fascinated man. He wrote, sang and wove dreams about it. He strove to conquer it. { Quoting Captain Kirk from Star Trek “Space: The final frontier…..to boldly go where no man has gone before!“ 
In Malayalam movies, Vayalar reigns supreme among lyricists who expressed this fascination with poetic brilliance; the others are there, too, but some way behind. Here are some of my favourites.
1.Prabhaathagopura Vaathil Thurannu from Thulaabhaaram (1968 )
Lyrics:Vayalar
Music : Devarajan
I have always been amazed at Vayalar’s ability to convey scientific concepts through lines imbued with an ethereal beauty. In this duet (Yesudas – Janaki) from Thulaabhaaram (1968), he describes the whole of Evolution in so few words, but so effectively.
2.Aakaasham Bhoomiye from Bhaaryamaar Sookshikkuka (1968 )
Lyrics :Sreekumaran Thampi
Music : Dakshinamoorthy
This song brings back childhood memories of us children sleeping out on our mats, on crispy clear nights, looking at the twinkling stars and the hazy Milky Way, wondering at the immensity and awesomeness of Nature. Swamy’s music conveys to us the unfathomable nature of space and, ultimately, some hope for humankind.
3.Bhramanapadham Vazhi from Uthraada Raathri (1978)
Lyrics : Bichu Thirumala
Music : JayaVijaya
KJ Yesudas has sung this song in a deep baritone, which, I think, brings out the depth of the universe, revolving, rotating, throbbing to an everlasting, unseen, unknown rhythm. This is one of the few philosophical songs which Bichu Thirumala has penned, and Jayavijaya has given it substance through their magic tune.
4.Thanka Thaazhikakkudamalla from Pearl View (1970).
Lyrics : Vayalar
Music : Devarajan
When man landed on the moon, the whole world rejoiced at the achievement of Science and Humanity. But poets all over the world, who had attributed magical qualities to the moon and moonlight and had spun countless dreams around it were deeply disillusioned. This song of Vayalar reflects this disillusionment with unsurpassed lyrical beauty.
5.Pralayapayodhiyil from Mazhakkaaru (1973).
Lyrics : Vayalar
Music : Devarajan
The inherent majesty of this song remained hidden to me until recently, when I read this translation by Variath Madhavan Kutty. (I guess my knowledge in Malayalam was just not good enough) 
How glad I was that he agreed to translate it. Thank you, Kuttyetta, for revealing the true beauty of those lines to me.
O Time! Resplendent light ray,
Who has slumbered and woken up
In the ocean of The Great Deluge,
Are not nature, God and myself
Your own reflections ?Above this mud wall
Where aeons of Manu take birth and die,
In a chariot where seasons, dear daughters
Of your dreams, are seated left and right;
You visit solar systems to seed them
With fragrance, how exquisite!
Oh, Time,
No matter how ever many Springs pass,
This fragrance is mine, mine, mine.On the threshold of this dusk
Where planets change course
Where the face of truth is
Hidden with a golden vessel;
On the path where the universe
Is circumambulating,
Quietly chanting syllables of your name
You come and light up garlands of
Heavenly lamps…how pretty is it, how pretty.Time,
No matter how many births I take,
This beauty is mine, mine alone,
Mine alone.
Please write in with your own favourites.
